SEATTLE, WA–(Marketwired – Mar 26, 2015) – Zipwhip, a Seattle-based cloud texting provider, today announced the release of MMS picture messaging (multi-media messaging service) on U.S. landline and toll free phone numbers with all tier-1 wireless operators. This feature allows businesses with a fixed-line phone number to send and receive picture messages with wireless subscribers using Zipwhip’s cloud-based web application. This advancement makes Zipwhip the first to offer MMS on existing landline and toll free numbers. To date, MMS support has only been made available on short codes and newly provisioned VoIP phone lines that have no brand equity associated with them.

According to a CTIA report on mobile usage, MMS traffic in the U.S. increased from 57 billion messages in 2010 to 96 billion in 2013. While this traffic is almost entirely between wireless subscribers, Zipwhip is expanding this capability to 200 million landline and toll free numbers in North America. “Our data shows that 8% of all texting traffic sent from a wireless subscriber to a toll free number is MMS. It’s imperative that we enable picture messaging for our customers. Without it, customer messages are going unheard,” said John Lauer, CEO of Zipwhip.

Zipwhip’s picture messaging opens the door for richer consumer-to-business communication. “Our product feature roadmap is focused on enabling functionality that provides value across all the industries we serve and picture messaging does just that. For example, insurance agents can now receive pictures of damaged property from their clients, or car dealerships can now send pictures of new inventory that customers are asking for,” said Lauer.

MMS picture messages can provide details that traditional SMS can’t. Delivering insurance quote documents or receipts is a prime example of this. “As we send and receive pictures, we can communicate with our clients on their terms. Agents can send a prospect a picture of a quote or confirm confidential information,” says Jason Passarell, Allstate Agency Owner and President of Passarell Insurance.

Zipwhip’s picture messaging capabilities are being offered as a premium add-on to its business packages and as part of its API plan for Enterprise customers.

Zipwhip is the productivity tool that lets businesses and customers text each other. Zipwhip text-enables your existing (landline, VoIP, or toll free) business number. With direct connections to tier 1 carriers, Zipwhip is the trusted, scalable solution to business texting.